Filed under: Capitalism, Economy, Freedom, Statism, Taxes | Tags: A Nation in Motion, Freedom and Opportunity, Overregulation and Overtaxation
America has grown by about 13 million new immigrants since 2000, who brought energy, talent and a work ethic, and a view that America continues to be a land of freedom and opportunity. There are now 308.74 million Americans, an increase of 37 million.
The census again revealed that America is a nation in motion. We move across state lines, change residence and change jobs.
The ten states with the greatest population gains were Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Colorado and South Carolina. These states gained an average of 21% in population. These states are more conservative, have lower taxes and more market-friendly business climates,
The states with progressive, public-sector orientation and higher taxes grew by only 2% on average. They include most of the states now well-known for fiscal distress. Michigan, Ohio, New York, Illinois, California, and New Jersey. Michigan was the one state that had a net loss in population in the last decade. New York, California and New Jersey are in the economic doldrums as well as the population doldrums. The Northeast continues to stagnate. Only New Hampshire, which has no income of sales tax, has a population growth two times the rest of the region.
Texas is a standout. It gets four new Congressional seats, followed by Florida with two seats, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington each gain one seat.
New York and Ohio each lose two seats. Illinois Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are all down one seat. When combined with the impact of redistricting within states, Republicans could be in position to gain more House seats in 2012.
For the first time in history, the Northeast and Midwest will have less than 40% of the electoral college votes needed to elect a president. High taxes and onerous business regulation have been chasing people out of New York for decades. The absence of a sales tax and the presence of a more friendly business climate attract folks to Florida and Texas.
To quote Walter Wriston once more:
Capital will go where it is wanted and stay where it is well treated. It will flee from manipulation or onerous regulation of its value or use and no government power can restrain it for long.
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
